Anti-poverty targets the focus of discussions as Treki continues visit to China

30 April 2010  The ambitious set of social and economic targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) topped the agenda today as General Assembly President Ali Treki continued his official visit to China.

Dr. Treki met with Vice-President Xi Jinping to discuss the MDGs, which will be the focus of a special summit at United Nations Headquarters in New York in September, as well as peace and security, UN reform, the food and energy crises and the global economic slowdown.

Dozens of world leaders are expected to participate in the September summit, which will measure how much progress has been made towards the MDGs – which are supposed to be reached by 2015 – and which targets require the most attention during the next five years.

Mr. Xi voiced China’s strong support for the summit, according to a note released by a spokesperson for Dr. Treki.

The two officials also “underlined the relevance and irreplaceable role of the United Nations as the most universal and legitimate mechanism to advance cooperative multilateral solutions to the global crises and problems,” the spokesperson added.

“They noted the importance of a reformed and strengthened United Nations, better equipped to respond effectively to the common concerns and interests of all Member States.”

Tonight Dr. Treki also attended the opening ceremony of the Shanghai World Expo and a banquet hosted by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

On Sunday he is scheduled to travel to India for the second leg of his Asian tour, before heading to Pakistan later next week.